Sir John Johnson Manor House - Historic Places Days

Sir John Johnson Manor House

Williamstown, Ontario
Type
Cultural Heritage Centre
Address
19692 William Street, Williamstown, ON, Canada
Get directions
Hours
May to Labour Day open seven days a week from 9am to 4:30 pm. September to June open Mondays from 10am to 2pm
Phone
6133472356

The national historic significance of the Sir John Johnson House lies in its historical association with Sir John Johnson, its age as one of the oldest surviving buildings in Ontario and in its architectural design.

In 1776, at the start of the American RevolutionaryWar, Sir John Johnson left his substantial estate in the Mohawk Valley in New York, and came to Canada. During the war, he organized, funded and led the King’s Royal Regiment of New York, which was involved in many border skirmishes. In 1784 he became responsible for the settlement of Loyalists who had fled the United States, in the area from Lake St. Francis to the Bay of Quinte. He was given a substantial grant of land for himself, part of which included the land on which the hamlet of Williamstown is located today. On his Williamstown property, sometime between 1784 and 1792, Johnson had built a one and a half story, five-bay log structure on a rise of ground, near the Raisin River. A grist mill and a saw mill were built on the river in the same period.

While there is little to suggest Johnson ever lived in his Williamstown house, the mills were the focal point in his vision for the community he hoped to encourage at that location. The house was occupied by the overseer of the mill for at least part of Johnson’s ownership of the site. The features which can be associated with this period include the original portion of the house and the sites of the former mills.

Amenities

  • Family-Friendly
  • Guided Tour
  • National Historic Site
  • Parking
  • Washrooms
  • Wheelchair Access

Location

19692 William Street, Williamstown, ON, Canada
Get directions

Nearby Places

Sir John Johnson House National Historic Site

Williamstown, Ontario
The home remains one of the oldest in Ontario.
View Place | Get Directions

Glengarry, Nor’Westers & Loyalist Museum

Williamstown, Ontario
Be captivated by history at the Glengarry, Nor’Westers & Loyalist Museum!
View Place | Get Directions

Inverarden House National Historic Site

Cornwall, Ontario
Built in 1816, this stately Regency style
View Place | Get Directions

Cornwall Community Museum in the Wood House

Cornwall, Ontario
This 1840 United Empire Loyalist home is a federally registered museum which is furnished …
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